Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

STORIES OF THE REVOLUTION
With an account of the lost child of the Delaware: Wheaton and the Panther, &c.
Thanks to Willis Barshied Jr. for the donation.

By JOSIAH PRIEST
Albany
Printed by Hoffman and White,
No. 71 State Street 1836.

THE WONDERFUL PRESERVATION OF MRS. MOORE, WHEN
A PRISONER AMONG THE INDIANS.

But such was not the character of Butler, Brandt's associate in this attack on Cherry Valley, although bred on the bosom of softer usages. An Indian under his command had taken prisoner a feeble old woman, and finding, after travelling awhile, that she could not hold out, having waded a creek which was deep, her clothes had become frozen, her limbs stiff with cold, so that she could not stand up, told her to prepare for death, as that he must kill her, because she could not go fast enough.

She plead for her life and begged to be carried to Butler, who she said would have mercy upon her. The Indian consented and taking her up, carried her to Butler, where the poor woman plead for her life, desiring to be permitted to return again to Cherry Valley. But the inhuman wretch replied, although streaming tears admonished him of the anguish of her soul, " let the Indian kill you and have the benefit of your scalp, you are old enough to die, what do you wish to live longer for," here he turned away from her.

The Indian not willing to loose the bounty, carried her again to the woods, saying as he went, that he must kill her, as she could not walk, and if be should let her go she would starve before she could reach Cherry Valley.

Again she renewed her supplication to be carried to Butler once more; as she knew he would save her, it could not be that he would suffer her to be put to death when eight dollars would redeem her.

Again the Indian complied, and carried her to Butler ; here she renewed the plea for her life, in all the eloquence that tears and trembling old age, worn down with fatigue and hunger could inspire, but was repulsed with the same brutal language as before.

Now the die was cast, hope had disappeared forever ; the fogs and gloom of the grave began to gather round ; the Indian snatched her up in anger, intending to make short work, as his patience was quite exhausted; but at this horrible moment, God appeared in his providence, a British Sergeant had mercy upon her, bought her of the Indian, carried her to Canada on his own horse, and thus she escaped the knife of her adversary.

This woman's name was MOORE, the sister of Captain Harper, the mother of Jane Moore, who at the same time was carried to Canada, courted and married by Captain Powel, of fort Niagara, as stated by General Pachin, in his narrative.